Propose Design Guidelines Research Articles

"Sharing, Not Showing Off": How BeReal Approaches Authentic Self-Presentation on Social Media Through Its Design

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the pressures created by social media, such as heightened self-consciousness and the need for extensive self-presentation. In this study, we investigate how BeReal, a social media platform designed to counter some of these pressures, influences adolescents' self-presentation behaviors. We interviewed 29 users aged 13-18 to understand their experiences with BeReal. We found that BeReal's design focuses on spontaneous sharing, including randomly timed daily notifications and reciprocal posting, discourages staged posts, encourages careful curation of the audience, and reduces pressure on self-presentation. The space created by BeReal offers benefits such as validating an unfiltered life and reframing social comparison, but its approach to self-presentation is sometimes perceived as limited or unappealing and, at times, even toxic. Drawing on this empirical data, we propose design guidelines for platforms that support authentic self-presentation while fostering reciprocity and expanding beyond spontaneous photo-sharing. These guidelines aim to enable users to portray themselves more comprehensively and accurately, ultimately supporting teens' developmental needs, particularly in building authentic relationships.

(Wo)Man-Made Public Space

Women experience limitations in public space regarding their safety, comfort, and accessibility, which might be mitigated by urban design. This article addresses the question: How can public space become more gender-inclusive through the implementation of design principles focused on meeting the needs of women? It draws on existing literature combined with empirical observations and interviews, to establish a framework of eight design principles (safety cues, informal surveillance, legibility, spatial appropriation, representation, diversity, slow modes and ease of use) to make public spaces more gender-inclusive. The principles are applied in an exemplary design case focused on a public street in the city centre of Heerlen, Netherlands , which currently faces many of the issues that are especially limiting to women. Active public spaces, meaning spaces that encourage user engagement and interaction, often already contain some elements outlined in the framework, leading to easier fulfilment of the design principles. The application of the principles is limited to one design case, and the focus is restricted to women’s experiences. When applying the principles in other cases or typologies, the implications of the proposed design guidelines need to be carefully considered.

Solar Species: Energy Optimization of Urban Form Through an Evolutionary Design Process

This paper proposes design guidelines to enhance energy efficiency and energy generation potential in active solar buildings. Additionally, it presents a variety of optimized urban forms characterized by attributes such as shape, layout, and number of buildings on the plot. These urban configurations are classified into solar species, each associated with a distinct range of high passive and active solar potential. These results were achieved by developing and applying a simulation-driven, multi-objective optimization technique for the early-stage design of a residential building cluster in a temperate climate. This method leverages both passive and active energy indicators, employing a genetic algorithm to identify optimal forms that maximize active solar potential while also minimizing operational energy demand. The approach utilizes a parametric modelling routine that relies on vertical cores and horizontal connections to produce design iterations featuring irregular geometry, while ensuring structural continuity and means of egress. The findings reveal a significant variability in onsite energy generation, with optimized solutions differing by a factor of 2.5 solely based on shape, underscoring the critical role of active solar potential. Taken together, these results hint at the descriptive and predictive capabilities of these solar species, making them a promising heuristic model for characterizing urban form in relation to energy performance.

Do Generative AI Models Output Harm while Representing Non-Western Cultures: Evidence from A Community-Centered Approach

Our research investigates the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) models, specifically text-to-image generators (T2Is), on the representation of non-Western cultures, with a focus on Indian contexts. Despite the transformative potential of T2Is in content creation, concerns have arisen regarding biases that may lead to misrepresentations and marginalizations. Through a Non-Western community-centered approach and grounded theory analysis of 5 focus groups from diverse Indian subcultures, we explore how T2I outputs to English input prompts depict Indian culture and its subcultures, uncovering novel representational harms such as exoticism and cultural misappropriation. These findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive and culturally sensitive T2I systems. We propose design guidelines informed by a sociotechnical perspective, contributing to the development of more equitable and representative GAI technologies globally. Our work underscores the necessity of adopting a community-centered approach to comprehend the sociotechnical dynamics of these models, complementing existing work in this space while identifying and addressing the potential negative repercussions and harms that may arise as these models are deployed on a global scale.

Mod Installation as Reclaiming Representational Diversity: The Role of Aesthetic Agency in Stardew Valley

Media (e.g., film) are often designed around cisgender, heternormative logics and are not representative of the multiplicity of identities and identity expressions that exist in the world. Thus, media impedes the identity expression and performance of the communities who use them, as we do not see many parts of our identities represented or find that our identities are misrepresented. Video games, which are a genre of media, are especially problematic in how they perpetuate heteronormative normative logics. Unlike most media, however, video games give people agency over the aesthetics of game worlds--the characters and narratives--through the installation of mods. We conducted a content analysis coupled with a triangulation of mods through personal experience focused on the widely popular farming simulation game Stardew Valley. Drawing on a conceptual lens bringing together theories of identity and aesthetic agency, we highlight how the aesthetic agency afforded by mod installation provides opportunities for reclaiming representational diversity in game worlds along the following dimensions: sex and intimacy, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and body diversity. We discuss the implications of mod installation, exploring its potential relationship with identity work and identity play. We then propose design guidelines for achieving aesthetic alignment.

Modeling and Analysis of Environmental Electromagnetic Interference in Multiple-Channel Neural Recording Systems for High Common-Mode Interference Rejection Performance.

Environmental electromagnetic interference (EMI) has always been a major interference source for multiple-channel neural recording systems, and little theoretical work has been attempted to address it. In this paper, equivalent circuit models are proposed to model both electromagnetic interference sources and neural signals in such systems, and analysis has been performed to generate the design guidelines for neural probes and the subsequent recording circuit towards higher common-mode interference (CMI) rejection performance while maintaining the recorded neural action potential (AP) signal quality. In vivo animal experiments with a configurable 32-channel neural recording system are carried out to validate the proposed models and design guidelines. The results show the power spectral density (PSD) of environmental 50 Hz EMI interference is reduced by three orders from 4.43 × 10-3 V2/Hz to 4.04 × 10-6 V2/Hz without affecting the recorded AP signal quality in an unshielded experiment environment.

Enhancing human well-being and comfort: Optimizing the integration of plants in buildings

The escalating challenges posed by greenhouse effects and the imperative for sustainable solutions have garnered global attention towards mitigating environmental harm, with buildings emerging as significant contributors to carbon emissions. This case study meticulously examines the Shunde Country Garden Headquarters Building, a visually captivating exemplar of plant integration within architectural frameworks. While the initial design emphasizes aesthetics and sustainability, a deeper exploration uncovers shortcomings in considering the well-being of occupants. The integration of plants into building structures holds promise in carbon absorption and reduced energy consumption, making a positive contribution to sustainability. However, the Shunde case underscores challenges such as insufficient natural light, poor ventilation, and elevated indoor humidity levels. These issues highlight the critical necessity of aligning architectural designs with human experiences, transcending mere aesthetics and sustainability. This study also reveals a noticeable oversight in the social dimension of buildings integrated with plants within existing certifications and architectural practices. While certifications like LEED, WELL, Envision, and BREEAM primarily evaluate sustainability from a conventional standpoint, architects often prioritize aesthetics over the living experiences of occupants. The absence of comprehensive guidelines addressing human well-being and comfort impedes the widespread adoption of Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS). In response, this project aims to propose a design guideline that holistically considers environmental, economic, and social aspects. By accentuating occupants' comfort and well-being, the objective is to unlock the practical potential of VGS across various countries. The proposed design guideline encompasses environmental, economic, and social considerations. It delves into lighting, support, and landscape elements for the environment, and addresses economic aspects such as potential, construction, design, and landscape economy. Importantly, the social aspect takes precedence in the guideline, concentrating on innovation, location, and landscape. By addressing environment, economy, and society, this paper endeavors to elevate the impact of Vertical Greenery Systems on human well-being and comfort, fostering a sustainable and harmonious relationship between architecture and nature.

Renovation Wave in Europe: Low-Carbon Design for the Refurbishment of Social Housing in Southern Italy

The public housing stock, called social housing, in Italy was developed between the 1950s and the 1980s. As of today, the first residential developments are almost nearing their end-of-life age and are in need of urgent and intensive renovation. The European Commission, with the Renovation Wave, has set a goal of doubling the rate of building renovation over the next 10 years, reducing emissions, improving energy performance, and promoting decarburization. Renovation interventions, including structural, functional, energy, and plant upgrading interventions, etc., are to be preferred over integral demolition and reconstruction interventions, which have significant repercussions in terms of managerial and social discomfort. The case studies examined concern renovation interventions aimed at energy efficiency, functional adaptation of housing, as well as façade restyling. The design variants analyzed were evaluated in terms of CO2e emissions, according to life cycle inventory (LCI) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) approaches. This approach has a twofold purpose: to propose design guidelines, with low CO2e emissions, through hypotheses of variants in the case studies, and to propose, to the economic operators, economically advantageous bidding scenarios in the procurement process.

Reinforcement methods of an reinforced concrete beam with the circular opening in the plastic hinge region under cyclic loading

Transverse opening in the plastic hinge region of reinforced concrete (RC) beam is generally not recommended due to increased risk of shear failure rather than flexure or flexure-shear failure. However, in recent years, the actual pipeline configuration requirements have posed challenges in arranging such opening in the plastic hinge region of an RC beam member. To address this issue and propose design guidelines, this work examines the mechanical behavior of nine specimens subjected to cyclic loading. The test results are compared with the design methods suggested in other guidelines and research. Additionally, a set of design guidelines and novel reinforcement methods, utilizing Double-square hoop and U-shaped stirrups, are proposed and compared with traditional reinforcement methods for RC beams with circular openings. Three distinct regions for reinforcing beams with transverse circular openings are proposed based on their distance from the column support. In the first region, extending from three times the opening diameter to one beam depth (1H), the opening is reinforced with two inclined U-shaped stirrups on each side and double-square hoops on both faces. The second region (1H to 2H) utilizes one inclined U-shaped stirrup on each side, along with double-square hoops on both faces. Beyond twice the beam depth (2H) in the third region, the opening is reinforced solely with double-square hoops on both faces. The sets of design methods provide valuable insights for future design considerations.

Flow Characteristic Analysis of the Impeller Inlet Diameter in a Double-Suction Pump

Pumps are considered crucial mechanical devices in any industry. Especially, double-suction pumps, due to their high-flow design and high head, are utilized in diverse industrial sectors. However, despite these advantages, double-suction pumps are vulnerable to issues like losses, vibrations, and cavitation. Pump vibration is mainly caused by suction recirculation occurring at the impeller inlet. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of the impeller inlet design on enhancing the stability of double-suction pumps while expanding the operating flow range. Through a validated CFD study, the influence of the impeller inlet passage size on the head and efficiency was analyzed. Furthermore, research was conducted on the phenomenon of suction recirculation occurring at the impeller inlet, proposing design guidelines to minimize it, especially for operation at low flow rates. The results demonstrate that the ratio of the hub diameter to the shroud diameter at the impeller inlet significantly impacts the avoidance of recirculation at low flow rates. These findings are expected to contribute to improving the stability and efficiency of high-flow pumps.

Effects of product personalisation degree on user perception in car front design

The front facia gives the car vivid features; accordingly, and an appropriate product personalisation degree (PD) can improve product branding, related to the appearance design, while avoiding excessive design features. This study investigates the effects of the car front facia PD on user perceptions and proposes design guidelines for vehicle designers and manufacturers. An open-ended experiment was conducted with 30 participants using 60 car fronts to study user emotions and preferences related to product personality based on questionnaire and physiological electrical signal evaluation results. The features were extracted using the chaos theory and cvxEDA algorithm. The obtained results indicate that the PD was consistent with user emotions. Furthermore, when the consistency between PD and user emotions is high, a significant variation in user preferences can be observed. Therefore, when designing high-PD products, the sub-item product personalisation degree (sub-item PD) should be carefully managed, considering the overall logic and coherence. Highlights Product personalisation degree is positively correlated with the subjective and objective emotions of users. The impact of product personalisation degree on user preferences and subjective emotions is not always the same, particularly pleasure and arousal. When product personalisation degree is highly correlated with the subjective and objective emotions of users, the user preferences are highly differentiated.

Workflow analysis of breast cancer treatment decision-making: challenges and opportunities for informatics to support patient-centered cancer care.

Decision support can improve shared decision-making for breast cancer treatment, but workflow barriers have hindered widespread use of these tools. The goal of this study was to understand the workflow among breast cancer teams of clinicians, patients, and their family caregivers when making treatment decisions and identify design guidelines for informatics tools to better support treatment decision-making. We conducted observations of breast cancer clinicians during routine clinical care from February to August 2022. Guided by the work system model, a human factors engineering model that describes the elements of work, we recorded all aspects of clinician workflow using a tablet and smart pencil. Observation notes were transcribed and uploaded into Dedoose. Two researchers inductively coded the observations. We identified themes relevant to the design of decision support that we classified into the 4 components of workflow (ie, flow of information, tasks, tools and technologies, and people). We conducted 20 observations of breast cancer clinicians (total: 79 hours). We identified 10 themes related to workflow that present challenges and opportunities for decision support design. We identified approximately 48 different decisions discussed during breast cancer visits. These decisions were often interdependent and involved collaboration across the large cancer treatment team. Numerous patient-specific factors (eg, work, hobbies, family situation) were discussed when making treatment decisions as well as complex risk and clinical information. Patients were frequently asked to remember and relay information across the large cancer team. Based on these findings, we proposed design guidelines for informatics tools to support the complex workflows involved in breast cancer care. These guidelines should inform the design of informatics solutions to better support breast cancer decision-making and improve patient-centered cancer care.

A Study of the Effects of Historical Block Context on Soundscape Perception

This study aims to explore the influence of spatial functional differences on the overall relationship between soundscape and visual landscape in the context of historical blocks and then propose design guidelines for audiovisual elements. Audiovisual stimulus materials were collected from 11 representative locations in typical urban historical blocks along the southeast coast of China and classified into residential, cultural leisure, and commercial spaces based on their primary function, activity, and visual environment characteristics. An evaluation environment was created in the laboratory using virtual reality technology, and a subjective evaluation questionnaire was administered to 71 volunteers regarding the perception of audiovisual elements and the evaluation of the overall environment. Structural equation modeling was used to elucidate the relationships between sound source perception, soundscape perception, visual landscape satisfaction, and overall harmony of the environment and to compare the effects of functional differences at different locations on the overall relationships. The results show significant differences in the types of perceived sound sources at different functional locations, which makes the sound sources affecting soundscape perception and visual landscape satisfaction different. Residential space is mainly affected by artificial sound and mechanical noise; in cultural and leisure spaces, all three types of sound sources have a significant impact, and only natural sound has enhanced subjective perception; the impact of artificial sound in commercial space is crucial. In addition, visual landscape satisfaction should be prioritized over soundscape pleasure to enhance the overall harmony of the environment. In residential and commercial spaces, reducing artificial and mechanical noise can effectively enhance the harmony of the environment; in cultural and leisure areas, reducing artificial sounds and increasing natural sounds or historical landscape elements can enhance the overall harmony of the environment. The results of this paper provide empirical evidence for understanding the overall relationship between soundscape factors in urban contexts and suggest that place function should be considered an important context when designing soundscapes.

A new hybrid steel–timber rocking seismic force resisting system equipped with U-shaped fuse connections

This paper introduces a new low-damage hybrid steel–timber rocking braced frame with self-centring capability and proposes a design methodology in the framework of Canadian design standards. This system consists of a gravity load-resisting timber frame and a steel concentrically braced frame acting as the lateral load-resisting system that is connected using U-shaped steel fuses. The self-centring capability is achieved by post-tensioning strands and rocking bases within the lateral load-resisting system. The system, along with its components, is first introduced. The proposed design method and system performance objectives are then presented. The seismic performance of the system and the proposed design procedure are validated through numerical analyses considering the interaction between the lateral and gravity load-resisting systems. The results of dynamic analyses confirm the enhanced seismic performance of the proposed hybrid system with almost no residual deformations after the earthquake. Moreover, the proposed design guidelines can accurately predict the system’s seismic response and demands imposed on the members.

Pedestrian connectivity: A focus on residential neighbourhood sidewalks to promote accessibility to public parks

Public parks play a pivotal role in improving community life in residential neighbourhoods, with many individuals integrating a daily walk to a park near their home as part of their routine. A crucial element of the pedestrian infrastructure that promotes walkability is the use of sidewalks. However, a decline in the usage of both public parks and sidewalks has been reported in residential areas of South Africa due to the challenges discussed in this paper. Studies suggest that ample pedestrian pathways leading to public parks may enhance park usage. This study aims to analyse the functionality of sidewalks in a suburb in Bloemfontein city in South Africa as non-motorised transportation routes and to propose design guidelines for improvement to promote access to public parks in the suburb. The study employs the Conjoint analysis technique to identify factors deterring pedestrians from using sidewalks, thus hindering access to public parks. The results emphasise that the physical layout, and the perceived and actual safety of pedestrians are the primary factors impacting sidewalk usage. For instance, pedestrians frequently opt for roadways over sidewalks despite potential risks, mainly due to insufficient pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The findings suggest that infrastructure upgrades, connected sidewalks and parks, safety measures, inclusive design, community awareness programs, and periodic reviews of pedestrian needs can lead to cities that promote active lifestyles and become more inclusive, sustainable, and conducive to holistic well-being. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the Conjoint analysis technique is a powerful tool in urban planning, providing valuable insights into pedestrian preferences and their implications for infrastructure improvement decisions.

Design Procedure for a High-Efficiency Class-E/F3 Power Amplifier

The switch voltage stress in a Class-E power amplifier (PA) is larger than that in any other switching PAs. A series resonant filter is added across the switch to filter out the third harmonic of the switch voltage and reduce the switch voltage stress. The new circuit is usually called a Class-E/F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> PA. The output power, the efficiency, and the component values of a Class-E/F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> PA can be <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">sensiti</b> ve to the design of the harmonic filter. In this article, we perform a sensitivity analysis on Class-E/F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> PA and provide guideline to design a Class-E/F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> PA which is robust against variations in the harmonic filter components. We also provide new design equations to calculate the component values. To validate the proposed design guidelines and equations, a prototype circuit was designed and implemented. At <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">V</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">DD</sub> = 4.5 V, the measured output power, the efficiency, and the switching frequency of the prototype PA were 0.96 W, 94.2%, and 800 kHz, respectively.

Plate structure design guideline for commercial alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) with improved liquid flow uniformity: Multi-scale quantitative criteria and experimental validation

Alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) holds great promise for large-scale green hydrogen production, but its commercialization is impeded by high electrical energy costs. Improving flow uniformity in AWEs is crucial to reduce energy consumption, necessitating optimized plate structure designs. Regrettably, the quantitative investigation of flow uniformity in electrolyzers is rare, due to the complex flow behavior. As a consequence, the existing designs primarily rely on empirical knowledge, lacking an efficient and systematic design guidance. This study establishes a general plate structure design strategy for commercial AWEs by introducing quantitative criteria for flow uniformity in multi-scale. The strategy comprises four steps: 1) single unit design to improve lateral liquid distribution, 2) evaluation of velocity magnitude discrepancy at horizontal sections, 3) flow behavior prediction by RTD analysis, and 4) validation through performance test. The strategy incorporates three quantitative parameters φ, δ, θ to evaluate the performance in three different levels. Two novel designs, namely, the rhombus and wedge electrolyzers are proposed to demonstrate the design strategy. Additionally, an in-situ electrolysis visualization/performance test platform is developed to vividly depict the gas-liquid flow during electrolysis and validate the effectiveness of our design guidelines. The proposed design guideline provides step-by-step guidance for the plate structure design of future high-performance commercial AWEs.

Design optimization of medical robotic systems based on task performance metrics: A feasibility study for robotic guided vascular laser treatments

AbstractWhile designing an end‐effector tool for a specific task using an already available robotic arm is a common strategy for developing robot‐based solutions, it is subject to the designer's subjective biases, especially in the medical robotics field. Consequently, this approach can result in suboptimal solutions that may limit the performance of the robotic arm and the overall system. This work introduces a novel framework for developing a virtual scenario that enables the robust optimization of design guidelines for robotics‐based medical solutions. The proposed framework aims to address the issue of subjectivity involved in the design process, improving the reliability and accuracy of the robotic system. Specifically, it aims to find the optimized 3D positioning of the Tool Center Point and the robot base that takes full advantage of the robotic arm kinematics. The feasibility of the proposed methodology is validated for designing a system for robotic‐guided vascular laser treatments. First, a simulated treatment environment is constructed to compute the optimal trajectories to treat a wide population of synthetic human models. Next, a design optimization methodology based on robot task performance metrics is developed. Overall, the proposed design guidelines allowed the performance of 94.1% of the treatment trajectories free of collisions with median precision of around 0.5 mm while guaranteeing high manipulability. Thus, proving the added value of the proposed strategy and showing the potential for promoting the development of optimized robotics‐based solutions.

Design strategies for renovation of public space in Beijing's traditional communities based on measured microclimate and thermal comfort

This paper proposes design strategies for renovating traditional communities in Beijing based on measured microclimate and thermal comfort and preserving historical authenticity to empower residents to make autonomous decisions about the renovation process. Based on the collected data from 11 hutongs and 102 courtyards in Dongcheng District, 4 representative courtyards and 2 representative hutongs are summarized. Microclimate data were collected in the representative months of January and September 2022. The design guidelines for 4 courtyards and 2 hutongs design guidelines, including 20 renovation modes, are proposed through on-site measurement and thermal comfort analysis. Due to the difference in microclimate, the proposed design guidelines can only be applied to the public space of traditional communities in Beijing but not to the public space in traditional villages in the suburbs. The application of the results also faces two challenges: the willingness of the public to participate in the renovation work and the demolition of illegal buildings. This study emphasizes human comfort as a factor to be considered in renovation projects. This study provides a standardized method for public space renovation in historic districts through microclimate analysis and thermal comfort assessment.

Mapping actuating performance of knitted shape memory alloys and proposing design guidelines for assistive wearable applications

The purpose of this study was to map the actuating performance of knitted SMA modules, and propose design guidelines for developing optimal SMA actuators, to be used in wearable assistive devices, suitable to be worn on the human body. To validate the findings of this study in the real world, we adopted an assistive rehabilitation glove for hemiplegic patients as a particular design case. To characterize the bending and contractile properties of knitted SMA modules, we conducted actuating performance tests with 720 knitted SMA samples under various conditions in actuation force, bending angle, contraction, electric power, and surface temperature. Based on the results, we proposed design guidelines by aligning the actuating performance of knitted SMA modules with joint mobility of hemiplegic patients for a smart rehabilitation glove. We anticipate that the outcomes of this study will serve as a practical yardstick for researchers in determining the desired actuating performance of a knitted SMA module that can support and assist the joint motion of the human body, when designing a wearable assistive device.